Transducing apparatus and magazine usable therewith



TRANSDUCING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE UVSABLE THEREWITH Filed March 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 22, 1954 F, H @WENS 2,681,950

TRANsDUcING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE USABLE THEREWITH Filed Marh 19, 1949 v 5 sheets-sheet 2 al w F. H. OWENS June 22, 1954 TRANSDUCING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE USABLE THEREWITH Filed March 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 III;

'l.MIJIHIIIIIIIIIIHVIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIBIIIII Affa/VE/ June 22, 1954 F H, OWENS 2,681,950

TRANSDUCING APPARATUS AND MAGAZINE USABLE THEREWITH Filed March 19, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENToR. fL/f Fari/ww A aff/714g F. H. OWENS June 22, 1954 TRANSDUCING APPARATUS ANU` MAGAZINE USABLE THEREWITH 5 Sheets-heet 5 Filed March 19, 1949 Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED 'STATES OFFICE TRANSDUCING APPARATTUS AND MAGAZINE YUSBLE THEREWTH 13 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to an apparatus for transducing intelligence yon Van Velongated medium such as aY tape, and in particular toA one in `which multiple lane ltransducing `on said medium is employed, .and to amagazine particularly adapted for use insuch an apparatus. Many aspects of the invention, however, are pertinent to single lane recording.

The apparatus is here particularly illustrated for the recordingand reproducing -of sound on a niagnetizabletape but litwill be'apparent that the invention is-applicable to othertypes of recording and reproducing apparatus.

In'order to facilitate removaland replacement of the .transducing medium, be it tape, lwireflm, or the like, from the apparatusthe use of `niagazines has found widespread acceptance because such magazines eliminate the onerous necessity oi threading the medium .through the various operativeportions of the apparatus and also-eliminate the dinicult task oifsecuring the free ends of the medium to the spools or other elements upon which they are tozbe Wound. Variousv problems arise when Such magazinesare employed, these problems revolving primarily about obtaining a driving connection to the take-up spool, that is to say, the spool upon which the medium -is to be Wound, securing proper positioning of the medium with respect to the operative transducing elements on the apparatus, and providing'ior proper control of the'apparatus so that Winding or the medium from one spool-Ftoanother is terminated before the medium has completely Yuri-- Wound from one of .the spools, since obviously if the niednun` ispermitted to completely unwind, one of the advantages ci the vmagazine type of apparatus, to Wit, the lack of necessity of securing the free ends of' the tape to the spool, `,would be obviated Various expedients have in the-past been employed with greater or less success. The present invention provides a 'construction which is siinpie and positive vin operation and which effectively provides for the automaticand foolu proof attainment ofthe necessary operations.

YWhen multiple 'lane transducing lis employed, it is inost'desirable that the transducing. medium be riva-ble -in either direction so that itis not necessaryY to place the magazine on the apparatus in a particular manner depending uponA the particular lane to be transduced. The apparatus of the present invention is illustrated and. described as adapted for tvvo lane transducing but it `Will be .apparent that any.' nuinber` of 'lanes'imayl be ernployed.

" @ne :of the objects of the 4,present invention is to [lli devise an apparatus adapted to drive the transducing mediurn in a magazine in either direction in which the driving connection is .accomplished in a simple and fool-proof manner.

Another object of the present invention is to devise such an apparatus in which the driving mechanism is so constructed that itcanioe caused to assume an out of the Way or housed position in which it ofers no impediment to the free movement of the magazine into or away from operative position on the apparatus, the driving mechanism thereafter being movable into operative engagement with the medium in the magazinek in a simple manner.

A further object of the present invention is to devis@ an apparatus so constructed that iirmand fool-proof contact of the transducing medium with its driving mechanism and with the `operative transducing elementsis positively and automatically achieved and in which means are provided to ensure that such contact with the transducing medium is not madewhen the apparatus is in stand-by condition, thus eliminating un necessary strain and Wear of the transducing medium.

Yet another object of the present invention is to devise a magazine which, in conjunction with appropriately constructed apparatus, positively and efficiently ensures control of the operation of the apparatus so that the magazine may be rused with optimum ease and efiiciency.

Another object of the present invention is to devise an apparatus in which 'guiding means is provided f or the transducing medium, particularly in the area at which transducing takes place, -so as' to improve (fidelity of recording and reproduction.

An additional object of the 'present invention is to devise a multiple lane transducing apparatus in which the medium is adapted to be driven in opposite directions depending upon the lane to be reproduced and in Which a pair of operative transducing velements are employed, one being operative ior each direction of motion of the transducing medium, only that transducing element which is operative for a given direction of .inc-tion of the medium being in contact with the medium, thus not only reducing the abrasive ei- '.Fect exerted on the medium but also increasing the fidelity of transducing by eliminating the possibility that residual magneticv elieots in the non-operative transducing element might adversely affect the transducing action of theoperative element.

A still further object of the present invention is to devise a novel indicating mechanism for use in the magazine so as to give visual notice to the user of the particular portion of the medium which is being transduced at any given moment.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing objects and Such other objects as may hereinafter appear, the present invention relates to a transducing apparatus and to a magazine employed therein as dened in the appended claims and as described in this specication, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top cross-sectional View of the apparatus of the present invention with a magazine in operative position thereon taken along the line i-i of Fig. 2 but with one closure in open 4position and with the top of the magazine removed;

Fig. 2 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 but showing both closures in closed position, the magazine being held slightly out of operative position;

Fig. 3 is a side cross-sectional View taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. e is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1 but without the cover and closure portions of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side cross-sectional view taken along the line 5 5 of Fig. l;

Fig. '7 is a bottom View, partially broken away, of the magazine employed with the apparatus;

Fig. 8 is a schematic view illustrating the mechanism for driving the appropriate take-up spool in the magazine;

Fig. 9 is a side cross-sectional view showing a portion of the driving mechanism in its intermediate non-engaged position;

Fig. l is a side cross-sectional View taken along the line lill0 of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 but showing the driving mechanism in one of its operative engaged positions;

Fig. 12 is a side cross-sectional View taken along the line !2-|2 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 8 but showing the driving mechanism in the operative engaged position other than the one illustrated in Fig. 11;

Fig. 14 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but taken along the line {4--14 of Fig. 13; and

Fig. l is a fragmentary top cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of apparatus in which a pair of movable transducing heads are employed, only one of those heads at a time being in contact with the elongated medium.

The magazine The magazine of the present invention comprises a casing having a bottom portion 2 and a top portion 4, the two portions being held together by screws 6 or other appropriate securing elements. A pair of cup-shaped spools 8 and I8 are provided, each being mounted on pins l2 which are in turn rotatable within sleeves i4 inside the casing, the cup-shaped spools being surrounded by plastic or rubber rings I6 to which the free ends of the transducing medium I8 are secured by means of pins 28, the transducing medium d6 thus being wound on and between both of the spools dened by the cup-shaped members 8 .and it and the plastic or rubber rings i5, the medium I8 extending from the rst spool 8 around a guide roller 22 rotatably mounted on fl (l pin 24 in sleeve 25, thence across the open front of the magazine over pressure roller 28 mounted on pin 30 in sleeve 32, thence around guide roller 22 rotatably mounted on pin 24 and thence to the spool I8.

Toothed Wheels 34 are xed to the rotatable pins I2 at the bottom of the sleeves I4 and hence are rotatable with the spools. Spool rotation restraining members in the form of levers 3B are rotatably mounted on the sleeves 26 by means of hubs 3B and are provided with fingers 4t engageable between the teeth of the wheels 3'4 so as to restrain those wheels from rotation. Springs 42 are active between the levers 36 and studs 44 on the casing so as to urge the levers 3 into their position in engagement with the wheels 34, in which position they positively prevent rotation of those wheels and hence positively prevent rotation of the spools 8 and IB. Each of the levers 35 is provided With an oiTset portion 4 6 which, as will be explained more in detail hereinafter, is engageable by an element on the apparatus when the magazine is moved into operative position thereon, so as to cause the levers 36 to pivot outwardly from their engaged rotationrestraining position as illustrated in Fig. '7 to the position illustrated in Fig. 1 in which the ngers 40 have been disengaged from the wheels 34, thus permitting the spools 8 and IU to rotate.

An arm 48 is pivotally mounted on sleeve 32 by means of hub 50 and extends inwardly from the pin 38 between the spools 8 and I0. A roller 52 is mounted on pin 54 and is adapted to engage the medium i8 on either one of the spools 8 and IU. A pin 56 is provided on the arm 48 near the pin 30, the pin 56 being acted upon by protruding portion 58 of spring 60, the ends of which are secured to studs 52 structurally and electrically connected to the studs 44 by means of brackets 64. The action of the protruding portion 58 of the spring 68 on the pin 28 is of the overcenter or toggle type and hence the arm 48 will be urged in one direction or the other so that the roller 52 will make contact with the medium I8 on one of the spools 8 or l0 depending upon which of those spools has the least amount of medium thereon. As illustrated, the spool 8 has the least amount of medium thereon and the arm 48 is urged by the spring 6B into engagement therewith. As the spool 8 is rotated to wind the medium thereon, the arm 48 will be moved away from the spool 8 against the action of the spring 60 until the amount of medium on the spool 8 is sufficient to cause the arm 48 to move past its central position,

f. at which time the spring 68 will then urge the arm 48 into engagement with the medium I8 on the spool I0, that spool then having a lesser amount of medium wound thereon.

A first lever 66 preferably formed integral with the hub 50 extends to either side of the hub 50. A second lever 68 extending to either side of the arm 48 has a hub portion 10 which is frictionally mounted on the hub 5D of the arm 48 by means of spring 12. The ends of the second lever 68 preferably extend out beyond the ends of the lever 66. These levers are adapted, as will be described more in detail hereafter, to actuate suitable controls in accordance with the amount of medium wound on the spools 8 or l 0, the levers being moved by the arm 48 to which they are operatively connected.

In order to facilitate use of the apparatus it is desirable that the user be able to have some means of knowing what particular point on the transducing medium I8 is being acted upon by the operative transducing element. This is necessary in order to make proper erasures, to cause a new recording to start where the previous recording has finished, to enable reproduction only of a desired portion of the recorded intelligence, and the like. Accordingly, an indicating member lli is provided on the top of the magazine, that member taking the form or a small block slidable within track T6 adjacent to a piece of slate or paper i8 on which desired marks can be made. The element It is connected at either end to a driving element in the form of an endless wire or string B0 which extends around guide pulleys 82 at either side of the magazine and also extends around enlarged pulley Sli mounted on pin et which is in turn rotatably received in sleeve 33 at the free end of the arm d8. Secured to the pin St below the pulley 84 is gear @t which is movable within slot 92 in the top 2 of the magazine and is engageable with stationary rack. 9d formed in one edge of that slot 92. Hence, as the arm sie pivots in accordance with the amount of medium on either one or" the spools d or lil, the pulley 84 will translate therewith and hence will move the driving element 3G and the indicating member it.

At the same time that the pulley Bt translates, it will also rotate because of the rotation of the gear 9U with respect to the stationary rack 54 and hence additional movement will be imparted to the indicating member it. the arm 4S may cause translation of the pulley 855 only over a small fraction of the length of the magazine, the rotation of the pulley til will cause the indicating element i4 to move a much greater distance, across substantially all of the length of the magazine, thus giving rise to a more precise and accurate indication.

The apparatus The apparatus with which the magazine is useable is here specically disclosed only with regard to those features thereof which are necessary to an understanding of the present invention. Conventional or non-necessary features such as the use oi a motor for driving and the electrical connections employed for controlling the operation of the motor, for accomplishing the transducing action, and for achieving the necessary controls, are not specifically shown since they are relatively conventional in the field and may take a wide variety of forms without affecting the present invention in the slightest.

The apparatus comprises a frame generally designated lili including a table or other surface t8 on which the magazine is positionable and a i transducing housing generally designated ill@ at one end of the table 98. rIf'he housing comprises, in the embodiment here specifically illustrated for use with multiple lane recordingJ a pair of sub-housings 102 and itil each containing a transducing head of any appropriate construction, the sub-housings being separated by driving roller it mounted on shaft its which has flanged pulley Ht secured thereto via resilient bushing l l2, the flanged portion of the pulley being receivable within and driven by pulley lid connected to shaft l i6 which is driven in any appropriate manner by a motor (not shown). A ily wheel i i8 may also be secured to the shaft I I5 in order to achieve increased smoothness of operation.. The driving pulley E il@ is adapted, when the magazine is placed in operative position, to enter the open end of the magazine and cause the elongated medium it to be engaged between itself and the roller 23 in the magazine, rotation .Als a result, although TEO of the driving roller 56 in either direction causing the medium i8 to unwind from one spool t, lli or the other. Each of the sub-housings m2 and ltd is provided with a curved guide surface i213 adapted to engage and support the portions of the elongated medium iS between the guide rollers 22 and 22 and the roller 28, the transducing heads in the sub-housings 82 and itil cooperating in any appropriate manner with the medium i8 as it passes over the guide surfaces ld, preferably by projecting out through apertures in the surfaces l2@ into engagement with the medium it. When multiple lane transducing is employed, the transducing heads are vertically positionable by any desired apparatus to correspond to the lane transducing of which is desired.

The housing me is also provided with appropriate manually operable controls such as the reproducing volume control knob |22 and the recording volume control knob IZA. Each of the sub-housings 62 and liiil (and it will be remembered that when one lane recording is employed only one such sub-housing will be required) is provided with control mechanism cooperable with the levers 66 and St in the magazine to appro priately condition the apparatus to the amount of medium iii remaining on the spool. This con* trol mechanism could, if desired, be mechanically actuated but in the form here specically dis closed, it is electrically actuated. The control apparatus itself is not specifically illustrated, since it may take any desired form, but the arrangement of control contacts illustrated is particularly adapted and designed to actuate a suite able warning signal, such as a light or buzzer, when only a predetermined amount of medium remains on the spool having the least medium thereon and then to actuate a solenoid or other apparatus for automatically stopping the motor when the amount of medium on the spool being unwound reaches an irreducible minimum.

To this end, each of the sub-housings m2 and iili is provided with an energizing contact E25 I electrically connected to one end or the warning signal and the solenoid or other apparatus for stopping the motor and with rst and second control contacts H28 and it@ respectively, the first control contact '23 being connected to the other end of the solenoid or other motor stopping mechanism and the second control contact 53! being electrically connected to the other end oi the warning signal. In the magazine, the levers 35 are metallic, as are the springs 52, the studs M, the brackets 64, the studs t2, the spring the pin 5S, the arm #38, and the levers @t and E8. so that an electrical path is defined within the magazine from each of the levers lit to the levers 65 and S. When the magazine is in operative position on the apparatus, the energizing contacts 26 engage the oiset portions 46 of the levers 3S so as to make electrical connection therewith and also are to cause the levers 35 to pvot to their non-engaged position as shown in Fig, l. The levers 6a and 68 are so positioned that the arm 4S pivots, the end of the lever 58, which thus constitutes a second circuit closing Contact, will engage and make electrical connection with the second control contact i3d, thus closing the circuit through the warning signal and energizing whatever warning may be considered appropriate. As the operation of the apparatus continues, more of the elongated medium i8 will be wound from one of the spools 8, It and hence the armt48 will. continue to pivot until the lever G6, which. constitutesta-Frst.circuit closingv contact, engages and makes electrical connection with the-first control contact |28,` thus closing the circuit to` the `solenoid Vor other apparatus and Vstopping the motor.' During the latter portion of thismovement, the lever 68 remains stationary with respect to-the apparatus since it is in engagement with the second control contact |313. Hence it pivots with respect to the arm 48 and the lever 66 sothat its opposite end is moved to a position in advance of the Opposite end of the lever '68.. Therefore, when motion of the elongated medium i8 is next initiated in an opposite direction, andfhence when the .arm 48 pivots toward the opposite spool i0, 8, the lever 68 will still engage wtih the second control contact |36 on the opposite side-ofthe apparatus before the lever '66 engages the first circuit closing contact |28; In this way, the warning signal is always automatically energized-a predetermined interval before the motor is stopped no matter what the direction of motion of the medium i8.'

The medium |8 is positively moved past transducing heads by reasonvof rotation of the driving pulley |06` and hence is unwcund from the appropriate f spool without any additional mechanism being necessary. However, a take-up drive must be provided activer upon the spool upon which the fmedium is to be wound so as to rotate that" spool and wind the medium thereupon. This take-up mechanism takes the form of a gear |32 .positioned above the table @t and mounted on shaft I 34 rotatable within sleeve |35 carried on arm |38 pivotable about the bearing 89 within-which shaft |88 is rotatable, the lower end of the shaft. |34 having pulley |48 secured thereto, the pulley' |48 being drivingly connected with the iiange pulley |||i by means of flexible belt |42. Consequently, Whenever the driving pulley |86 is rotated, fthe gear |32 will rotate also. rIhe gear |32 is centrally positioned on the table 88 and is movable, by pivotingvthe arm |38, from side to side until it is in engagement with one or the other of the toothed wheels 36 associated with the spools 8 and |21.. The gear 82 is also positionable centrally between and simultaneously out of engagement with both the toothed wheels The spools 8 and i0 will bev selectively rotated for take-up purposes dependinf7 upon whether the gear l|32 is in operative engagement with their respectivetoothed wheels 34.,

The toothedwheels 34 are exposed on the underside of the magazine-in recess |44 so as not to interfere with free slidability of the magazine onto the apparat-us. The take-up driving gear |32 is receivable-in the same recess 44 between the toothed wheels 34. In order to further facilitate removal or replacement of the magazine inthe apparatus, the gear |32 Vis also receivable within recess or channel |48 on the table 98, the gear |32. beingmovable downwardly into that channel |46, in which `position it is below the upper level of. the table-38 and hence does not interfere withmotion of the magazine therealong.

rihe mechanism. for accomplishing the positioning of the gear |32' is best shown in Figs. 8 through 13. The arm. |38 is not only pivotable about bearing |09 but is also movable axially therealong, being urged to upward position by means of spring |48 active between the table 38 and the arm |38.' The tail of the arm |38 is provided with a slotv |58v and with a cammed'surface generally designated l|52 having a central raisedy portion |54 and .laterali lowered portions |56.v Amanually operable member in theform of a handlerl 58 is exposed on thetopof the housingl, the handle being secured to and rotating shaft |60 mounted in sleeve |62. The shaft passes through and controls switch |64 which' determines the direction of rotation of the motor and has an eccentric pin |66 at the bottomzthereofA receivable within the slot |58 in the tail-of the arm |38. Hence, rotation of the handle |58 causesthe arm |38 to pivot.

The 'handle |58 mayassume one of three positions. The intermediate position is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, the eccentric pin |66 .being in line between. the axis of shaft |60 and the pivotalaxis of the arm |38. As a result, the arm |38 assumes an intermediate position in which the gear |32 is disposed between and out of engagement with both ofthe toothed wheels 34. In this position, a second Vpin |68 eccentrically secured to the shaft |60 is in engagement with the raised cam surface |54, thus forcing the arm |38 downwardly as viewed in Fig. 9 so that the gear |32' is received within thechannel |46. When in this position, the top of the gear |32 is below the top surface of 'the table 98 and hence the magazine may be freely placed in position on the apparatus. At the same time; the switch |64 is positioned to deenergize the motor. The handle |58 is -also adaptedl to be placed in a pairof-extreme positions, one on each side of the intermediate position just described,

one of which is illustrated in Figs. l1 and 12. Rotation' of the handle |58 `to this extreme position causes the eccentric pin |66 to pivot the arm |38 sofas to bring the gear |32 into engagement with one of the toothed wheels 34 corresponding to the spool which is to vact as a takeup spool. At the same time, the pin 68 is moved so as to engage one of the lower cam surfaces |56 and hence the armi |38 ispermitted to move upwardly underV the influence of the spring 48 until the gear |32 .moves out of the channr-sly |46 and projects'. above Vthe topsurface of the table 98 and into Athe recess |44 inthe bottom of the magazine. In: this positiongthe switch |64 is energized so as to drive the motor in a directionappropriate to utilizing the spool with which'the gear |32 is operatively connected as the Vtaire-up spool. The other extreme position of the handle |58 is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14. Comparing this position with the position oflFigs. li and l2 it will be apparent that since the eccentric pin |66 is on the opposite side of the axis of the shaft |58, the armA |38 will be pivoted in the opposite direction, the engagement of pin |68 with the other lower cam surface |56 permitting the arm |38 to move upwardly under the influence of the spring |48Aso that the gear |32 can mesh with the toothed-Wheel 34 of the other spool.

The housing |08 is positioned on one side ofthe table 98.v A iixed cover |10 is provided on the apparatus, being connected to the remainder of the apparatus by'means of side walls |12, that cover lbeing providedwith a window |14 through whichthe indicating member 14 and the sheet 18 are accessible,the table 98 and the top cover |18 defining an' open-ended channel into which the magazine is insertable and from which the magazine is'removable. The-open end cf thechannel oppositefromthe housing |63 is provided with a closure |16 hinged at |18 to the top wall |10. TheV inside of thisclosure |16 carries a pair of resilient pressure members generallyxdesignated. |8||-and each here illustrated in the'form Vof a U-shaped bracket |82 -within which a roller |84 is rotatably mounted, the bracket |82 being secured to the underside of the closure by means of spring |86. The sides of the magazine are provided with shoulders |88 against which the rollers |34 are engageable. Whenever the closure ile is in closed position, as here illustrated, the resilient pressure members EBEE will engage the magazine and force it toward the housing ist, the apparatus and magazine being so cooperatingly designed that the pressure members |80 will be active, if permitted, to force the magazine into operative position in which the energizing contacts |23 engage and pivot the levers 36, the elongated medium i8 is in engagement with the guide surfaces |20, and in which the driving roller It presses the medium i8 between itself and the roller 23 in the magazine. Hence, merely moving the closure |15 to its closed position will ensure that the magazine will be properly operatively positioned in the apparatus.

When the magazine is so positioned, some strain is placed upon the elongated medium i8. It is often desired to have the apparatus in stand-by condition, with the magazine inserted l therein, over a long period ci time, and in order to increase the life of the elongated medium I8 and prevent the possibility of its being distorted by remaining under tension or compression for any long period ofv time, and further in order to provide an apparatus which may be completely enclosed when not in use, l provide a second closure ist! hingedly secured at |32 to the xed cover llt and adapted when in closed position to completely enclose and cover the housing llli. Fixedly secured to the closure |90 are a pair of stops ld adapted, when the second closure i9@ is in closed position, to engage the front edge of the magazine and hold said magazine out of ope erative position, the energizing contacts |25 not pivoting the levers 36 so that rotation of the spools 8 and I@ is still prevented, and the medium l in the magazine remaining in unstressed condition. Whenever transducing is desired, the mere lifting of the closure |99 to open position will expose the manual controls for the appa' ratus and at the same time permit the resilient pressure members i8@ to press the magazine into operative position.

In Fig. 15, a particular embodiment is disclosed in which a pair or transducing heads generally designated ld, each comp-rising a recording or reproducing head |98 and an erasing head 2te, are each articulately mounted in one of the subhousings |92 and ld. The front walls of these housings define the guide surfaces |26 and are provided with apertures 2d? through which the heads are selectively projectible. Each of the heads are mounted on levers 204 which pivot about shafts 2&6, the levers being urged toward one another by spring 2li@ active therebetween. The shaft it@ to which the handle |58 is secured rotates cam 2HE which has a single raised portion 2|? engageable with the ends of the levers 2te, which ends may be provided with precision adjusting screws 2id having lock nuts 2HE ii den sired. When the handle |52 is in one or" its extreme positions, as illustrated in Fig. i5, the single raised portion 2 i2 of the cam 2 |23 Will engage the end of one oi the levers 20d and pivot it against the action oi the spring 2ii until the transducing head ist associated therewith projects out through the apertures 202 into contact with the elongated medium i3. At the same time, the spring 2te ensures that the other transducing head is retracted Within the subhousing Hit. Hence, during transducing, only one transducing head at a time will engage the transducing medium i8. When the handle |58 is placed in its intermediate position, the raised portion Zl of the cam 2 it Will be in contact with neither of the levers 204 and consequently neither of the transducing heads 96 will project through the apertures 202 in the sub-housings |2 and |04.

Operation The functioning and operation of my apparatus and magazine will in the main be apparent from the above description. When it is desired to load a magazine into the apparatus, the handle i523 will be in its intermediate position and hence the motor Will be cle-energized and the take-up gear |32 will be in the position illustrated in Fig. 9 in which it will not interfere with ree sliding of the magazine over the table $18. After the magazine has been slid most of the Way in, the closure |76 can be moved to closed position, after which the magazine can be retained in the apparatus but out or operative position so that the spool rotation restraining members 3e will still be eiective to prevent undesired rotation oi either of the spools il or iii and so that the elongated medium i8 will be in unstressed condition. Whenever it is desired to record or repro duce, the second closure lil may be opened, thus automatically exposing the manual controls and causing the magazine to move into operative position. The handle |58 is then moved to either one of its extreme positions, depending upon the desired direction of motion oi' the transducing medium, this in turn being determined by the lane transducing of which is desired, the transducing head being approximately positioned with regard to the desired lane. This will cause the take-up gear |32 to move upwardly and sidevvardly into meshing engagement With the toothed Wheel Se on the spool 8 or lli which is to be the take-up spool. At the same time, the motor Will rotate the driving roller |36 and hence will move the medium |8 past the transducing head and at the same time cause rotation of the take-up gear |32 through the slippable connection dei-ined by the transmission belt |1212 so as to cause the appropriate spool to Wind the transducing medium thereupon. In the embodiment of Fig. 15 motion of the handle |56 will also cause the appropriate transducing head it to be projected out of the sub-housing it? or l, as the case may be, into operative engagement with the medium.

As transducing taires place, the arm t8, which is in engagement with the spool having the least medium thereon and hence with the take-up spool at this stage of the operation, will be pivoted as medium is Wound upon the take-up spool, causing rotation of gear GG and oi pulley 8d and moving the indicating member ill across the magazine.

As soon as the take-up spool has more medium Wound thereon than the other spool, or as soon as the spool with which the roller 5d on the arm it is in engagement has suflicient medium theren on to cause the arm et to pivot past its central position, the arm will then be moved, by the action of the spring Gil, into engagement with the other spool. As the medium on that spool becomes depleted, the arm 48 will continue to pivot until the lever te makes contact with the second control contact |36, thus energizing a AsaidA ascisse l l warning signal. As operation continues the lever Si! will slip with respect to the arm 8 until the lever 65 makes contact with the first control Contact IES, thus energizing an appropriate control circuit such as a solenoid which will stop the motor.

The handle IEB may then be placed in its intermediate position permitting removal of the magazine or it may be moved to its operative extreme position, in which case the direction of motion of the elongated medium i8 in the magazine will be reversed, the operations proceeding as above described.

It will be apparent that many variations may be made in the specic design or" the apparatus and magazine here disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. An apparatus for transducing intelligence on an elongated medium comprising a frame cn which `magazine containing an elongated medium is arrangeahle, two housings on said frame having guide surfaces over which the medium in said magazine is vadapted to pass, said guide surfaces having apertures, a pair of transducing heads, one in'each housing, projectable through the apertures in said guide surfaces into Contact with said medium, and a manually operable member` on said frame operatively connected to said heads so as to cause one, thev other, or neither of said headsto-project through the apertures in said guide surfaces.

2. An apparatus for translucing intelligence on an elongated medium comprising a frame on which a magazine containing an elongated medium is arranges-ble, said magazine including a pair of spools on and between which said medium is wound, two housings on said frame having guide surfaces over which the medium in said magazine is adapted to pass, said guide surfaces having apertures, a pair of transducing heads, each pivotally mounted in one of said housingsso as to be movable between a position projecting through the aperture in said guide surface into Contact with said medium and an inner position, a spring active upon said hea s to urge them toone of their positions, a cam active upon saidheads eiiective to cause them to assume the other of their positions, and a manually operable member on said frame connected to said cam sofas to move the latter and cause said heads to assume their desired positions.

3. The apparatus ci claim 2, in which a single cam interposed between said heads, in `which said spring urges saidheads into contact with said cam, and in which said cam is'movable to three positions, in one `of which only one head is in projected position, in a second of which both heads are in inner position, and in a third of which only the other head is in projected position.

4. The apparatus'oi claim 2, in which a single cam is interposed between said heads, in which said spring urges said heads into contact with cam and into their inner position, in which said cam is provided with a single raised portion selectively engageable with said heads to move them individually to projected position, and in which said cam is movable to three positions, in one of which said raised portion engages one of said heads, in a second of which said raised portion engages neither of said heads, and in a third of which said raised portion engages-the other of said heads.

5. In the apparatus .of claim 2', a driving element on said frame movable into driving engagement with one or the other of said spools in said magazine so as to rotate the spool with which it is in engagement and wind the medium thereon, and an operative connection between said manually operable member and said driving element, whereby said element is moved toward engagement with one or the other of said spools or is positioned out of engagement with both said spools.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, in which said driving element is also movable toward and away from said magazine, and lan operative connection to said driving element eiiective to cause it to move away from said magazine when said element is positioned out -of engagement with both said spools.

7. In the apparatus of claim 2, a driving element on said frame movable into driving engagement with one or the other of said spools in said magazine so as to rotate the spool with which it is in engagement and wind the medium thereon, and a first cam operatively connected to said manually operable member active on said element to cause it to move toward engagement lwith'one or the other of said spools or between and out of engagement with both said spools.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, in which said driving'element is also movable toward and away from said magazine, and a second cam operatively-connected to said manually operable member active on said element to cause it to move away from said magazine when said element is positioned between and out of engagement with both said spools.

9. An apparatus for transducing intelligence on an elongated medium comprising a frame, a magazine vincluding a pair of spools on and between which said medium is wound, a driving element on said frame enter-able into said magazine and movable on said frame in a given direction into driving engagement with one or the other of said spools in said magazine so as to rotate the spool with which it is in engagement and wind the medium thereon, said driving element being mounted on said vframe so as to be also movable in a different direction toward and away from said magazine, a manually operable member on said frame operatively connected to said driving element so as to cause said element to assume a first position in engagement with one of said spools, a second position in engagement with the other of said spools, and a third position out of engagement with both of said spools, and cooperating elements operatively connected to said driving element and to said frame respectively and eiiective to cause said driving element to move in said different direction away from said magazine when said driving element is positioned in said third position.

l0. [in apparatus for transducing intelligence on an elongatedmedium comprising a frame, a magazine arrangeable on said frame, said magazine including a pair of spools on and between which said medium is wound and having an opening between said spools, a driving element on said frame enterable into said magazine via said opening and movable on said frame in a given direction into driving engagement with one or the other of said spools in said magazine so as to rotate the spool with which it is in engagement and `wind the medium thereon, said driving element being mounted on said frame so as to be also movable in a different direction into and out of said opening, a manually operable member on said frame operatively connected to driving element so as to cause said element to assume a first position in engagement with one of said spools, a second position in engagement with the other or" said spools, and a third position out of engagement with both of said spools, and cooperating elements operatively connected to said driving element and to said frame respectively and effective to cause said driving element to move in said different direction out of said opening when said driving element is, positioned in said third position.

11. fin apparatus for transducing intelligence on an elongated medium comprising a frame, a magazine arrangeable on said frame, said magazine including a pair of spools on and between which said medium is wound, a driving element on said frame movable into driving engagement with one or the other of said spools in said magazine so as to rotate the spool with which it is in engagement and wind the medium thereon, said driving element also being movable toward and away from said magazine, a manually operable member on said frame, a rst cam operatively connected to said manually operable member active on said element to cause it to move toward engagement with one or the other of said spools or to cause it to assume a position between and out of engagement with both o1" said spools, and a second cam operatively connected to said manually operable member active on said element to cause it to move away from said magazine when said element is positioned between and out or" engagement with both of said spools.

12. An apparatus for transducing intelligence on an elongated medium comprising a frame includinCr a table over which a magazine containing an elongated medium is slidable, a transducing head on said table adapted to cooperate with said medium toward which said magazine is slidable over table, a resilient pressure member on said frame movable between a position active on said magazine to urge it along said table toward said head and a position free of and out oi the path of said magazine so that said magazine may be freely moved into and out of its operative positions, and a stop on said frame adapted to engage said magazine and retain it away trom said head against the action of said pressure member, said stop being manually movable to inoperative position out of engagement with said magazine when transducing is desired, said pressure member then moving said magazine toward said head.

13. An apparatus for transducing intelligence on an elongated medium comprising a frame in cluding a table, a xed cover over said table 14 deiining therewith an openended channel into which a magazine containing an elongated medium is adapted to be placed, a transducing head on said frame adapted to cooperate with said medium, a nrst closure articulately mounted at an open portion o1A said channel remote from said head and movable between positions opening and closing said portion of the channel, a second closure articulately mounted at another open portion of said channel and movable between positions opening and closing said portion of said channel, a resilient pressure member on said iirst closure engageable with said magazine when said iirst closure is in closed position and effective to urge said magazine toward said head, opening of said rst closure removing said pressure member from said magazine so that said magazine may be freely moved into and out of said channel, and a stop on said second closure engageable with said magazine when said second closure is in closed position to retain said magazine away from said head against the action of said pressure member, opening of said second closure moving said stop to inoperative position out of engagement with said magazine when transducing is desired, said pressure member then moving said magazine toward said head so long as said iirst closure is in closed position.

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